Project information

Empowering communities at risk

The Muslim community is increasingly identified as 'suspect', which often results in hostile treatment. We work to engage and empower this community to engage with human rights through the creation and training of a network of community leaders committed to helping others access their rights.

Charity information: Rights Watch (UK)

Need

Once a term associated with the Irish community during and immediately after the conflict in Northern Ireland, 'suspect community' is increasingly used when referring to the Muslim community in the UK. This has resulted in hostile treatment of some members within this community. Muslim teenagers in London are often treated with hostility and pressured by the security services. There is a poignant need to engage the community and highlight the protections afforded by the human rights framework.

Solution

By providing training to individuals and to those who show an interest and capacity for training others, we can help members of the Muslim community see the impact of understanding and accessing human rights. During workshops, we will address specific human rights issues, such as individual's rights under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act , and conduct role plays and written tests to ensure understanding of these issues. In turn, this should empower members to engage in the human rights discourse.

Aim 1

Individuals within the Muslim community see the impact of understanding and accessing human rights.

Activities

» Provide clear explanations of key issues, like the individual's rights under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act. » Present remedies and redress available. » Direct participants to an online platform with reliable information on the topics identified.

Success will be demonstrated by comparing the tests taken before and after training, demonstrating an increased understanding of human rights and accessing them.

Aim 2

Participants take responsibility for sharing lessons learnt in training with the wider community.

Activities

» Provide a second tier of training for those wishing to share what they have learnt and train others. » Conduct written tests where participants list how they will use the information. » Distribute materials that can serve as resources (with extra copies for particpants to distribute.)

Success will be demonstrated by the distribution and downloading of materials by non-participants who are then engaged enough to enrol in training.

Aim 3

Participants see that policies which violate the Human Rights Act can and must be challenged.

Activities

» Conduct role plays during the workshops. » Provide clear explanation of issues regarding individuals' rights. » Use workshop to discuss the need to assess risk, when considering action.

Success will be demonstrated by the identification and initiation of legal challenges which address the violation of human rights.

Impact

The project will empower members of the Muslim community to exercise their rights when they receive hostile treatment. We will reconvene participants for a final seesion in the fourth month to have them discuss and compare how they have used the training. We will monitor number of participants at the training workshops, use of the online platform, and the distribution of material to guage how many people are accessing the information we provide.

Risk

The key risks of the project stem from participants not feeling empowered enough to continue. To address this we have built in role plays which help participants see the impact of the knowledge and skills they are acquiring.

Reporting

Funders of this project will receive a report at the end of the stated 4 months, detailing the successes and challenges faced and any changes to the project plans.

Location

This project is based in London.

Beneficiaries

This project is designed to benefit members of the Muslim community in London who are often seen as 'suspect' and subsequently treated with hostility from state agencies and who are at risk of, and suffer from, human rights violations. Members of this community will be shown the protections afforded to them by the human rights framework.

Why Us?

Since 1990 we have provided support and services to anyone whose human rights were violated as a result of conflict and have monitored the impacts of counter-terror measures, how they can destroy trust and fuel anger, undermining their effectiveness. With knowledge on the treatment of the Irish as 'suspect community' we are well positioned to join forces with trusted partners to deliver training to members of the Muslim community who are treated in the same manner.